Will Zalatoris returned to professional golf at the Hero World Challenge after an eight-month absence due to back surgery, but struggled in the first round, finishing last in the 20-man field; despite an improved second round, his putting stroke remained shaky, leading to speculation that he needs more time to adjust to his new putter.
At Glance
‣ Will Zalatoris returned to professional golf at the Hero World Challenge after an eight-month absence due to back surgery.
‣ Zalatoris switched to a broomstick putter to help reduce stress on his back and improve his putting, but struggled in the first round.
‣ Despite an improved second-round performance, Zalatoris’ shaky putting stroke was still noticeable.
‣ Commentator Smylie Kaufman believes Zalatoris just needs more time to adjust to his new putter.
Tiger Woods’ return to the green may have been the talk of the town in Albany this week. But let’s not forget about the Hero World Challenge, which also marked the comeback of Will Zalatoris after his long hiatus.
Zalatoris had to step back from the Masters in April, which was a bummer. He then had to undergo back surgery, which meant spending the last eight months on the bench. His return to professional golf wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, though. The American found himself at the bottom of the 20-man field after the first round at the Hero World Challenge, with a score of nine-over.
The 27-year-old had decided to switch to the broomstick putter before the week, hoping it would help with his long-standing putting problems. But, alas, the solution didn’t come easy. Zalatoris was at the bottom in terms of the strokes gained putting stats in the first round, losing almost six shots on the field.
The second round saw an improvement, with Zalatoris shooting a respectable four-under-par 68. But eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice signs of a shaky putting stroke on Friday. Zalatoris has always had a bit of a struggle with the putter, often ranking outside the top 100 in Strokes Gained: Putting. But he insists his unusual putting stroke works for him, even if it’s not exactly a sight for sore eyes.
When asked about his putter switch before the event, Zalatoris said it was partly to ease the strain on his back. But he also hoped it would help him improve on the greens. Smylie Kaufman, a former pro who’s now a commentator, thinks Zalatoris just needs more time to get the hang of his new putter. “Willy Z hasn’t played in 7 months competitively and his first day back was with an entirely new putter on a windy day,” Kaufman wrote on X. “I personally love the way he rolls it…even though the ball wasn’t going in the hole yesterday. Just needs reps!”
Meanwhile, at the Hero, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who’s also trying out a new putter this week, has surged into a tie for the lead after round two. He’s neck and neck with Jordan Spieth, both sitting at -9. Brian Harman is hot on their heels, just a shot further back at eight under.
